My Fake Boyfriend, the latest release from Buzzfeed Studios, is exactly the kind of short, disposable romantic comedy its parent company publishes in list form. The film is built on a flimsy premise, lensed in a New York City stand-in that does not convince, and saved almost entirely by its three leads. It is the rare rom-com that is watchable specifically because of who is in it.
Quick take
- Stars: Keiynan Lonsdale, Dylan Sprouse, Sarah Hyland.
- Released by Buzzfeed Studios.
- Plot: a man creates a fake internet boyfriend to make his ex jealous.
- Director: Rose Troche, whose previous work includes Bedrooms & Corridors.
- Shot in Ontario, standing in for New York City.
Background: what the film is trying to do
My Fake Boyfriend follows Andrew, played by Lonsdale, who is stuck on an emotionally manipulative ex named Nico. With help from his best friend Jake (Sprouse) and Jake's girlfriend Kelly (Hyland), Andrew invents Cristiano, a fictional online boyfriend who runs with the bulls in Pamplona and lives the life Andrew wishes he could.
Predictably, the scheme works for a while. Predictably, Andrew meets a real chef named Rafi and starts falling for him. Predictably, Jake develops an obsession with Cristiano that mirrors everything he wishes he could be.
Our analysis
The script is paper-thin. The third act has an obligatory, absurdly staged reveal. The film asks the audience to believe it is in New York City when it clearly is not. None of this would matter with less charismatic performers.
The three leads carry the film. Lonsdale brings a vulnerability and honesty rare in rom-com leads. Sprouse's Jake could have been a stock comic sidekick, but the script gives him just enough room to find pathos. Hyland's Kelly has the deadpan comic timing she honed in Modern Family's later seasons, and her role is more than the usual girlfriend cameo. Together they sell a believable friendship that the script does not bother to dramatize.
What works: the buddy chemistry. The film is watchable whenever at least two of the three leads are on screen, and it works best when all three are arguing in the same room. What does not work: the third act tries to tie off too many loose ends with too little screen time. The fake-boyfriend reveals feel rushed.
This is not a film that earns rewatching. It is a film that justifies its 90 minutes. That is a narrower bar than most critics use, but for a Buzzfeed Studios rom-com, it is enough.
Who should care
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Liked Lonsdale in *Love, Simon* or Sprouse in *After | This is worth 90 minutes |
| Want sharp rom-com writing and tight direction | Keep scrolling |
| Enjoy buddy-comedy chemistry above all else | Give it a shot |
| Are particular about setting authenticity | The unconvincing NYC will bother you |
What to watch next
Watch whether Buzzfeed Studios continues to release feature films. The company is best known for list content and YouTube videos. If My Fake Boyfriend performs, expect more rom-coms in the same vein. Watch also what Lonsdale, Sprouse, and Hyland do next. They are doing the heavy lifting, and their next projects are a better signal of their talent than this film is.
Key takeaways
- The film is saved by its three leads, not by its script or direction.
- The premise is thin, the third act is rushed, and the New York setting does not convince.
- It is a 90-minute Sunday-afternoon watch, not a film to plan a trip to the theater for.
Frequently asked questions
Who stars in My Fake Boyfriend?
Keiynan Lonsdale, Dylan Sprouse, and Sarah Hyland.
Who directed it?
Rose Troche, who previously directed Bedrooms & Corridors.
Where was it filmed?
In Ontario, Canada, standing in for New York City.
Is it worth watching?
If you like the three leads, yes. If you want sharp rom-com writing, look elsewhere.